Fishing rod holder



Oct. 11, 1949. E. B. scHvQENK 2,484,427

FISHING ROD HOLDER Filed Oct. l2, 1946 I N VEN TOR.

'QQ/gm@ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFISHING non HOLDER Earl B. Schwenk, Seattle, Wash.

Application October 12, 1946, Serial No. 702,934

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-42) This invention relates to a fishing rod holder ofa type adapted to be attached to the gunwale of a fishing boat or to asimilar support to receive and hold a fishing rod.

An object of this invention is to provide a fishing rod holder that isvery convenient for a fisherman to use because a fishing rod can be veryquickly and easily inserted into or removed from said holder by the useof one hand only.

Another object is to provide fishing rod holder that will hold the rodfirmly and securely so that there will be no danger of the rod beingpulled out of the holder` by the pull of a fish.

Another object is to provide a shing rod holder that is quickly andeasily adjustable on both a vertical and a horizontal axis so as to holda rod in any desired position.

Another object is to provide a fishing rod holder having two upwardlyextending spaced apart arms with an upwardly opening fork on the upperend portion of the foremost bracket arm and a pivotally mounted hookconnected with the upper end portion of the rearmost bracket arm, saidhook extending sidewise from the rearmost bracket arm and beingpivotally movable between a rod holding position and a position in whicha rod can be very quickly inserted in or removed from said hook.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section, ofa fishing rod holder constructed in accordance with this inventionshowing the same mounted on a support such as a side rail or gunwale ofa fishing boat.

Fig. 2 is a View of the same in front elevation, with parts in section,taken substantially on broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1, parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation, with parts in section, takensubstantially on broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts in section, ofreadily releasable fishing holding means constructed in accordance withthis invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a pivotallymounted hook member in a position in which a fishing rod can be veryquickly and easily engaged therewith or removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of shing rod holderconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on brokenline 'I--l of Fig. 6.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

The mounting means for this rod holder is in the `form of a clamp member8 of inverted U shape. The clamp member `8 is adapted to fit over anysuitable support such as the side rail or gunwale 9 of a fishing boatand said clamp member 8 carries a thumb screw I0 by which it can beclamped to the support 9. The clamp member 8 is further provided with atubular socket I I positioned at right angles to the screw Ill so thatit will extend upwardly from the clamp member 8 when said clamp memberis in an operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The socket I I is adapted to receive a cylindrical stem I2 that carriesan upwardly extending disc shaped plate I3. A normally horizontalcircular iiange I4 is provided between the stem I2 and plate I3. Theflange I4 is adapted to rest on the top of the socket I I and ispreferably provided with one or more downwardly extending teeth I5 thatare adapted to intert with grooves or recesses I6 in the top of thesocket II. The stem I2 has an annular groove I1 for the reception of theend portion of a locking screw I8, Fig. 2, by which the stem I2 can belocked in any desired position in the socket II.

The disc shaped plate I 3 has radial corrugations or teeth I9 on oneside and the toothed side of said plate I3 is disposed in face to faceengagement with a plate portion 20 of a rod holding bracket. The plateportion 20 has one or more teeth 2 I, see Fig. 2, that intert with theteeth I9 on the plate I3 to help in locking the two plate members I3 and20 against relative angular movement. A thumb screw 22 extends throughthe two plates I3 and 20 and is threaded into one of said plates such asplate 20 to adjustably secure said two plates together.

The rod Vholding bracket is provided with two arms 23 and 24 that arerigid with the plate portion 20 and extend outwardly from said plate 20in spaced apart relation. The arm 23 is the front arm of the bracket andis herein referred to as the foremost arm. This foremost arm 23 extendsin a generally upward direction from the plate 20 and terminates in anupwardly opening fork 25 wherein a fishing rod 26 is adapted to rest.

The rearmost bracket arm 24 preferably extends in a generally horizontalrearward direction away from the plate member 2D for a substantialdistance and is thence curved upwardly and provided near its upper endwith an enlarged bearing portion 21. A rod holding pin member 28 isrigid with the bearing portion 21 and extends upwardly therefrom inprolongation of the arm 24. The shape of the bearing portion can bevaried as desired.

A hook 29 for engaging with and holding a fishing rod is pivotallyconnected with the bearing portion 21 and extends sidewise therefrom ina generally horizontal direction, as shown in Fig. 4. A shank portion 30of the hook 29 extends through a transverse hole in the bearing portion2T and is retained in said hole by a cotter pin 3|. A stop arm 32 isxedly secured to the shank of the hook 29, far enough from the end ofsaid shank so that said stop arm SI2 will properly position the hook 29transversely of the rearmost bracket arm 24. A cross Din 33 is pressiitted into the bearing member 21 and prog jects from two opposite sidesor faces of said member 2l' in the path of movementof the stop arm 32.When the hook 29 is inlthefpostion in which it is shown in Figs. 4 and 5the stop arm 32 will be in engagement with` the cross pin 33 and thehook will be stopped in a position in which a rod 26 can be quickly andeasily engaged with orV disengaged from said hook.

It is intendedcthat the hoo-k 29 can be used cn either side of thebracket, depending on which side of a boat the rod holder is used on.The hook'I 29 can be quickly and easily moved from one side tothey otherof the member by first removing the cotter pin then withdrawing theshank 3S or" the hook from the hole in the mein-ber 2, then inserting itin saidhole: from the other side and replacing the cotterpin.

Preferably the hook :i9 and the pin Z8' and the 'branches of thel rodreceiving ork`2'5 are' ali covered with rubber tubing ill?. to minimize'wear of the fish rod, reduce the liability of noise and providebetterholding surfaces for contacting the rod.

n'the use of this rod holding device the clamp i3' is made fast to asuitable support so that the Vforked rod holding bracket is supported inan upright position. rearwardiy extending position in which it is shownin Figs. 4. 5 a. ii'shing rod 2G can be very quickly and easily placedin the rod holder by holding the fishing rod in a generally uprightposition as shown Fig. 5, passing the handle portion of said rodsidewise into the hook 29 then'lowering the rodv into the positionsilowr. in Fig. l so that said rod rests in the fork 2E. In thisposition shown in Fig. l the rod is held within the hook 2&5 and betweenthe hook 2'9" and the-upwardy extending pin 28.`

The fishing rod can be as quickly and'. as easily removed from the rodholder by grasping said rod 2t and tilting it upwardly enough so thatthe rod clears upwardlyv extending pin 26' and'then puiiing they hand-leportion oi the rod-sidewise out oi the hook 2S; Thus'thc rod cannb'everyy pricklyy and easily engaged wither disengagei from the rod holderby the use of' onehand only.

When a rod is removed from the holder'- the hook. 2a will. ordinarilybe` leftY in' the Arearwardly extending. rod receiving position in whichit' is= shown in. Fig- 4.',

The hook can be moved intol the position i.

in which it is shown by dot and dashelines in Fig. Land' the rod itengaged with the hookV 29- Howcver the hookin this position` iidesired.. will ordinarily not be used;

In the rod holder shown in Figs. 6 and' 7 the twoarms 35 and 35 oi therod hold-ing bracket are made'iroiny one piece: of cylindrical metal inthis position.

which'h'as a curved portion .itat the location' ing Nhen the hoc-k 2X9'iS in' the ff..

siliency so that they will clamp and hold the curved portion 3i of therod holding bracket when the thumb screw 39 is tightened. When saidthumb screw 39 is loosened the rod holding bracketcarrbevtiltinglyfadjusted in a plane common to the two arms 35 and 3S of thesame. The parts shown in Fig. 6 that are adapted to engage with theiishing rod are similar to those shown i-n Figs. 1 to 5 and arecorrespondingly numbered. The hook 29 is shown in an inop erativeposition in Fig. 6.

The operation of the rod holder shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is similar tothe operation of the rod holder shown in Figs. l to 5.

Obviously changes in this rod holder canv be Irradewithinf the-scope andspirit of theV following: Claims.- Y

l. A iishing rod holder comprising abracket5 having two* upwardlyextending spaced apart arms; an upwardly opening rod` receivingforkoarriedby vthe upperV end `portionof the foremost bracket arm;and-av substantially U-shapedrodvreceiving hook-'carriedby therearrrlostl bracket arm and' having two side members positionedtransverselyV as respects'A thecommon` plane of said two-` bracket armswith one of said side members extending crosswise oi* the rearmostbracket'arnr and vpivotally 'supported `by said rearmost bracket' arm' ashort distanceY below" the' upper-"end thereof, leaving aportion'oiCsaid rear` most bracket arm extending above the pivotal bearing of saidIhookVV for" cooperation with" said hook'to-'receive and hold a'flshingrod'.

2; A fishing rod-holder comp'ri'sirlga bracket' having two upwardlyextending spaced4 apart amis; an upwardly opening rod receiving'foi'k"carriedby the' upper endporti'o'n' of the foremost" bracket' arrn'; abearing nieh'i'ber'rigi'd with the" av` pin" memberl extending above`said bearing' riern'ber,r andia' sub'stantiall'y'U-shaped`hook`hav ingthe end portion of one of its side members jouiirialed' in said bearingmember transversely 'of said"re"arr`n`ost` bracket' arin' ands'upportingsaid' hook for pivotal' rhoven'ient'with the hook extendl ing"si'dewise" irohi said rearrn'ost bracket arm, said hookand "saidpiricop'erating to receive and liolld` a shifi'g rod'.

3". Aa fishing rodliol'dr comprising a bracketl having two' upwardlyextending spaced apart ar'in"`s;" an' upwardly opening rod'receivingfork c'arriedby the upper end portion of the foremostJ bracket arnr; abearingniember rigid with the upper'end'portio'n of the rearinostbracketarm; a pin meinbr extending' above said bearing member; a substantiallyU-shaped hook having the end portion' of'oiie ofits' sides jour'iialedin saidbearin`g member transversely' o'i said rearm rhost bracket arms`and 'supporting said" hook" for pivotal movement with the hookextendingsid wisefromA said'rearmost bracket arm; the point oi said-hookbeing movable' in a path close toibut clear Ofsaid'upwardly extendingpin'ineniber; and Estopl meansrigid with said-rearmost bracket-i arm andpositioned adjacent to said ho'ok'liiniting angularmovement ofV saidhook andA positio-ningJ saidy f hookf atV substantially right a-nfgesito the upper end portion of said rearm'ost bracket" al1-irriteconven-i-en-tly'-receiv'e` a fish-ing; rod.

4. A shing'rod" holder comprisinga bracket liavin'gt'wo'-upwardly-vextending spaced ap'a'rt arms; means supportingL said" bracket' foracljust'i mirent about"`ar=upright and' a'horiZonta-lHa-xis; anupwardly' opening rod-receiving forkA carried by' said bearing member; asubstantially U-shaped 5 hook member having one side portion extended toform a bearing shank that is journaled in said bearing member to providefor pivotal movement of said hook member on an axis transverse to saidrearmost bracket arm; the point of said hook member being movable pastsaid pin member in a path close to said pin member, said hook member andsaid pin member being adapted to cooperate in holding a shing rod; astop member rigid with said bearing member and a stop arm rigid withbearing shank adapted to engage with said stop member and hold said hookmember in a rearwardly extending position relative to said rearmost armwhereby a shing rod can be easily engaged within and removed from saidhook member.

EARL B. SCHWENK. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,@ Number Name Date 417,997 Dupuis Dec. 24. 1889565,001 Horton Aug. 4, 1896 1,025,657 Towne May 7, 1912 1,992,165 BardonFeb. 26, 1935 2,202,739 Kilby May 28, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 596,326 France Aug. 8, 1925

